The total global betting market on the Brazil/England friendly last month was in the region of £250 million.
Stellar football agents represented the England goalkeeper, Joe Hart, and three out of five defenders who played in Brazil - Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka and Glen Johnson. The other two defenders (Gary Cahill and Leighton Baines) are represented by Base Agency who also act for Roy Hodgson, the England manager.
Stellar is co-owned by gambling horserace owner David Manasseh who was warned about his future conduct over the Luton Town bungs affair, and Jonathan Barnett who was found guilty of two misconduct charges over the transfer of Ashley Cole from Arsenal to Chelsea.
They even attend the same synagogue together!
Sweet.
The Brazil/England friendly international was competitive (unlike the fixed match against Eire) but...
... just think of the money that might be pocketed by a grouping of individuals linked by one firm of agents in an international match of no consequence.
European Commission Study on Sports Agents: "It should be pointed out, moreover, that the involvement of sports agents in match fixing is... made easier by the lack of adequate regulations."
So shouldn't concerns be raised about two businessmen who are willing to bend the rules, have an interest in gambling, represent the majority of the English defence in friendly matches which have global betting volume of a quarter of a billion pounds, with no regulation in place and they don't even have a proper website?
It is like the Alan Partridge swimming pool attendant sketch...
"In 2007, no-one died. In 2008, no-one died. In 2009, no-one died. In 2010, no-one died. In 2011, someone died. In 2012, no-one died..."
Yesterday, FIFA announced the latest International Team Rankings.
England fell to their lowest position in five years - 14th.
When Roy Hodgson was given the England manager post, England were 7th and they had been 5th at the end of Fabio Capello's reign.
One might expect such a decline in ranking from any insider trading team as underperformance is virtually always the norm in fixed England games.
Roy Hodgson, with one Danish League Title in 24 years and with his close links to Stellar, Base, Key Sports and Wasserman agents (who collectively represented over 60% of England's Euro 2012 squad), is not fit for purpose to be manager of the England team.
We did warn you.
Can you imagine Germany appointing such a lightweight?
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